Women constitute only 12% of the academic faculty in orthopaedics and 7% of practicing orthopaedists, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Only 11% of the faculty at engineering schools are women, and that percentage is lower for mechanical engineering.

In an effort to get young women of high school age interested in pursuing careers in orthopaedic surgery and engineering, Acumed will host an all-day Perry Outreach Program that features presentations by prominent female surgeons, engineers, and businesswomen in the field of orthopaedics.

The day culminates as the students perform surgical simulations to correct scoliosis deformity, fix a broken leg, and repair a rotator cuff. Forty young women from area high schools in the Hillsboro/Portland area have been selected to take part in the program, which takes place at the Acumed headquarters in Hillsboro, Oregon.

The Perry Outreach Program [POP] is an educational initiative of The Perry Initiative, a non-profit organization that holds outreach programs nationwide for women students in high school, college, and medical school. Named after Dr. Jacquelin Perry, one of the first ten women orthopaedic surgeons in the United States, The Perry Initiative is committed to inspiring young women to be leaders in the fields of orthopaedic surgery and engineering.

The POP at Acumed is The Perry Initiative’s first in the Hillsboro/Portland, Oregon area. The January 25th event is consistent with Acumed’s primary mission of developing innovative orthopaedic and medical solutions to improve patient care around the world and with its program of social responsibility that strives to make a positive impact in the communities it serves.

The event organizers believe that early hands-on exposure to these careers is key to boosting diversity and introducing fresh eyes and new perspectives to these life-changing fields.

Engineers and orthopaedic surgeons work hand-in-hand to develop safe and effective implants for repairing broken bones, torn ligaments, and worn-out joints. Strong partnerships between surgeons and engineers, such as those fostered by Acumed, are deemed essential for improving the performance of orthopaedic implants and creating solutions to unmet clinical needs.

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About The Perry Initiative
The Perry Initiative was founded in 2009 by Dr. Jenni Buckley (a mechanical engineer) and Dr. Lisa Lattanza (an orthopaedic surgeon). The first Perry Outreach Program for high school students was held in the summer of 2009 in San Francisco, California. In 2010, the high school program expanded nationwide. In 2011, the organization was incorporated as a 501c3 non-profit, governed by a Board of Directors consisting of prominent women in the engineering and medical fields. In 2012, The Perry Initiative started the Medical School Outreach Program to encourage first and second year women medical students to pursue careers in orthopaedic surgery. Today, The Perry Initiative runs over 30 day-long outreach programs nationwide, reaching over 900 high school, college, and medical students.

About Acumed
Acumed is a global leader in developing innovative orthopaedic and medical solutions to improve patient care. Acumed has over two decades of experience in the orthopaedic industry with the mission of aiding the afflicted through the ingenuity of our minds, the labor of our hands and the compassion of our hearts. Founded in 1988, Acumed is headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon, with offices and a distribution network around the world.

www.perryinitiative.org